papaparse vs fast-csv vs csv-parser vs neat-csv
CSV Parsing Libraries Comparison
1 Year
papaparsefast-csvcsv-parserneat-csvSimilar Packages:
What's CSV Parsing Libraries?

CSV parsing libraries are essential tools in web development for handling CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files, which are commonly used for data exchange. These libraries provide functionality to read, parse, and manipulate CSV data efficiently, allowing developers to integrate data from various sources into their applications. Each library has its own strengths, catering to different use cases such as performance, ease of use, and feature sets, making it crucial to choose the right one based on project requirements.

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papaparse3,918,39613,026264 kB20921 days agoMIT
fast-csv2,810,9791,7247.03 kB568 months agoMIT
csv-parser1,375,3871,46229.5 kB584 months agoMIT
neat-csv117,093323-04 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: papaparse vs fast-csv vs csv-parser vs neat-csv

Performance

  • papaparse:

    PapaParse is designed for both performance and ease of use, capable of handling large files efficiently. It also provides a user-friendly API that simplifies the parsing process, making it a great choice for client-side applications.

  • fast-csv:

    fast-csv offers excellent performance with its streaming capabilities, allowing developers to process large files without loading the entire dataset into memory. It strikes a good balance between speed and usability, making it a reliable choice for various applications.

  • csv-parser:

    csv-parser is designed for high performance and low memory usage, making it suitable for processing large CSV files efficiently. It uses a streaming approach that allows for handling data in chunks, reducing the overall memory footprint.

  • neat-csv:

    neat-csv is optimized for ease of use rather than raw performance, making it suitable for smaller datasets or applications where simplicity is prioritized. While it may not be as fast as others for large files, its promise-based API enhances usability.

Ease of Use

  • papaparse:

    PapaParse is known for its user-friendly API and extensive documentation, making it very approachable for developers. Its rich feature set, including support for various data formats, adds to its ease of use.

  • fast-csv:

    fast-csv provides a clear and intuitive API, with excellent documentation that helps developers get started quickly. Its dual capabilities of parsing and formatting CSV data enhance its usability.

  • csv-parser:

    csv-parser has a straightforward API that is easy to understand, making it accessible for developers who need to quickly implement CSV parsing without a steep learning curve.

  • neat-csv:

    neat-csv is designed with simplicity in mind, offering a promise-based API that aligns well with modern JavaScript practices. This makes it particularly easy to integrate into asynchronous workflows.

Feature Set

  • papaparse:

    PapaParse stands out with its extensive feature set, including support for web workers, file uploads, and customizable parsing options. It is ideal for applications that require advanced handling of CSV data.

  • fast-csv:

    fast-csv provides a robust feature set, including both parsing and formatting capabilities. It also supports custom delimiters and headers, making it versatile for different CSV formats.

  • csv-parser:

    csv-parser focuses primarily on parsing CSV data efficiently. It does not offer advanced features like formatting or file handling, making it a lightweight choice for straightforward parsing tasks.

  • neat-csv:

    neat-csv offers a simple promise-based API and focuses on providing a clean parsing experience. It lacks some advanced features but excels in ease of integration with modern JavaScript.

Streaming Support

  • papaparse:

    PapaParse supports streaming as well, but it is more commonly used for client-side applications where files are smaller. It provides a good balance of features for web applications.

  • fast-csv:

    fast-csv also supports streaming, enabling efficient processing of large files. Its streaming capabilities make it suitable for applications that require real-time data handling.

  • csv-parser:

    csv-parser excels in streaming support, allowing developers to process large CSV files in real-time without loading them entirely into memory. This is crucial for applications dealing with massive datasets.

  • neat-csv:

    neat-csv does not focus on streaming support, making it less suitable for very large files. It is more geared towards simpler use cases where the entire dataset can be loaded into memory.

Community and Support

  • papaparse:

    PapaParse boasts a large community and extensive documentation, making it easy to find support and resources. Its popularity ensures that many developers have experience with it, facilitating knowledge sharing.

  • fast-csv:

    fast-csv has a growing community and is actively maintained, providing a wealth of resources and support for developers. Its documentation is comprehensive and helpful for troubleshooting.

  • csv-parser:

    csv-parser has a smaller community compared to others, which may result in limited support and resources. However, it is well-maintained and has good documentation.

  • neat-csv:

    neat-csv has a smaller community, which may limit the availability of resources. However, it is straightforward enough that most developers can find their way through its usage with minimal guidance.

How to Choose: papaparse vs fast-csv vs csv-parser vs neat-csv
  • papaparse:

    Use PapaParse if you require a comprehensive solution with extensive features, including support for web workers, file uploads, and advanced parsing options. It is particularly user-friendly and well-suited for client-side applications.

  • fast-csv:

    Select fast-csv if you need a balance between performance and features. It supports both parsing and formatting CSV data, and its ability to handle large files with a streaming approach makes it versatile for various use cases.

  • csv-parser:

    Choose csv-parser for its simplicity and performance. It is a streaming parser that is highly efficient for large CSV files, making it ideal for applications that require processing large datasets without consuming excessive memory.

  • neat-csv:

    Opt for neat-csv if you prefer a promise-based API that simplifies asynchronous operations. It is particularly useful for modern JavaScript applications that utilize async/await syntax, providing a clean and straightforward way to handle CSV data.

README for papaparse

Parse CSV with JavaScript

Papa Parse is the fastest in-browser CSV (or delimited text) parser for JavaScript. It is reliable and correct according to RFC 4180, and it comes with these features:

  • Easy to use
  • Parse CSV files directly (local or over the network)
  • Fast mode
  • Stream large files (even via HTTP)
  • Reverse parsing (converts JSON to CSV)
  • Auto-detect delimiter
  • Worker threads to keep your web page reactive
  • Header row support
  • Pause, resume, abort
  • Can convert numbers and booleans to their types
  • Optional jQuery integration to get files from <input type="file"> elements
  • One of the only parsers that correctly handles line-breaks and quotations

Papa Parse has no dependencies - not even jQuery.

Install

papaparse is available on npm. It can be installed with the following command:

npm install papaparse

If you don't want to use npm, papaparse.min.js can be downloaded to your project source.

Usage

import Papa from 'papaparse';

Papa.parse(file, config);
    
const csv = Papa.unparse(data[, config]);

Homepage & Demo

To learn how to use Papa Parse:

The website is hosted on Github Pages. Its content is also included in the docs folder of this repository. If you want to contribute on it just clone the master of this repository and open a pull request.

Papa Parse for Node

Papa Parse can parse a Readable Stream instead of a File when used in Node.js environments (in addition to plain strings). In this mode, encoding must, if specified, be a Node-supported character encoding. The Papa.LocalChunkSize, Papa.RemoteChunkSize , download, withCredentials and worker config options are unavailable.

Papa Parse can also parse in a node streaming style which makes .pipe available. Simply pipe the Readable Stream to the stream returned from Papa.parse(Papa.NODE_STREAM_INPUT, options). The Papa.LocalChunkSize, Papa.RemoteChunkSize , download, withCredentials, worker, step, and complete config options are unavailable. To register a callback with the stream to process data, use the data event like so: stream.on('data', callback) and to signal the end of stream, use the 'end' event like so: stream.on('end', callback).

Get Started

For usage instructions, see the homepage and, for more detail, the documentation.

Tests

Papa Parse is under test. Download this repository, run npm install, then npm test to run the tests.

Contributing

To discuss a new feature or ask a question, open an issue. To fix a bug, submit a pull request to be credited with the contributors! Remember, a pull request, with test, is best. You may also discuss on Twitter with #PapaParse or directly to me, @mholt6.

If you contribute a patch, ensure the tests suite is running correctly. We run continuous integration on each pull request and will not accept a patch that breaks the tests.